Machine for making multi-ply belting



1 May 31, 1938. J. A. WEBB MACHINE FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY BELTING s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1936 N NH Enventoxq James A, M266 T attorney May 31, 1938. J. 'A. WEBB MACHINE FOR MAKING M ULTI-PLY BELTING Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zinnentor James A. hbb

(Ittorneg y 19348. J. A. WEBB MACHINE FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY BELTING Filed June 12, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zhwentor (Ittorne 31,1938? I J. A. WEBB I 2,119,476

MACHINE FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY BELTING File d June 12, 1956 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zhmentor James A. We bb W? G ttorneg May 31, 1938. J WEBB I 2,119,476

MACHINE FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY BELTING I Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Patented May 31, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING MULTI-PLY BELTING James A. Webb, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to J. A. Webb Belting 00., Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application June 12, 1936, Serial No. 84,887

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of belting, and it has particular reference to a machine for making multi-ply leather power transmission belts.

A multi-ply leather belt consists of two or more plies, each of. which is formed from strips of tanned leather which are secured seriatim at their ends, and which plies aresecured to each other along their contacting faces by cement. In the belting industry, the term cement is employed to designate generally suitable securing media, among which are hot cement consisting primarily of animal glue, and waterproof cement, which is essentially a synthetic composition such as a nitro-cellulose adhesive. Generally speaking, the waterproof properties of the synthetic compositions make them preferable for belting purposes, but there have been a number of practical difliculties which heretofore have militated against their more extensive use. One is the high cost of the finished belting when such compositions are used in the manual assembly practices known for a number of years.

It has, therefore, been for some time a desideratum of the art to improve the art of belt making to an extent permitting the more extensive use of waterproof cement, while, at the same time, preserving to the finished belt those desirable properties of strength and life which characterize a well made hand-assembled belt. In the machine making of belts according to methods which have heretofore been proposed, certain defects not found in the old manual methods have arisen, due to placing the belting or the plies thereof under too great tension during the assembly operations, thereby leading to such troubles as ply separation, which, to a certain extent, have offset the economical advantages sought bythe use of machines. It is known, for example, that 40 leather will stretch to a certain extent if placed under tension, but due to the nature of the substance, it is extremely difiicult, if not practically impossible, to maintain a uniform tension throughout a number of conjoined plies without inducing additional complications. This is due to the fact that the hides from which belting leather is made are naturally curved, instead of flat, and the application of excess tension therefore causes the ply to curl along its edges.

In seeking to improve on the practices of the prior art, and to devise economic ways to make belting without sacrifice of. the desirable properties of the belt, I have discovered that a sub- Lil stantial portion of the excess stretchiness of the 55 belt may be eliminated during manufacture, without adversely affecting its life, if, during the assembly operations, only one ply is subjecte a limited tension, while the other ply is m tained in its natural condition. To apply 6. to ainthis discovery in a practical way, I therefore propose to stretch to a limited extent one of the belt plies in a continuous band, and, while it is so stretc hed,

to cement to it another ply of leather which is under practically no tension. These two plies are brought together, after application of what ever type of cement is desired, and are fed into a press which applies suitable pressure to unite them firmly, together.

I have also discovered that high grade multiply belting, either with or without the inclusion of the stated single ply tensioning, may be made economically and rapidly by a method which involves bringing the plies, immediately after the application of the cement, into mutual contact, and then forwarding them to the press for final contacting operation by means of a pushing, in-

stead of a pulling action, whereby the stated desirable tensioning of the belt, or curling of the edges and ply separation, may be obviated.

working according to this method, I furthermore contemplate the employment of an intermittent mode of action, in which the plies are cemented, contacted, and forwarded during one interval of time when pressure is relieved, and then these actions are interrupted during a following time.

interval while the pressure is applied.

The present invention also contemplates a novel machine for making belts, including a novel combination of parts permitting of rapid and ECO- nomical operation while utilizing the processes outlined above. The various principles of the machine, and the various specific objects, details, and advantages thereof, will become apparent from the following portions of this description, and will be more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the description,

Fig. l is a side elevation, with the parts illustrated more or less diagrammatically, of one bodiment of a belt making machine;

ing the mode of connecting the belt plies toge when using the machine of Fig. 1;

ther

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the cementing and feeding portions of the belt making machine; a

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts show Fig. 4, drawn on a slightly enlarged scale;

1 of the machine; u 7 Fig-7i-s a sectionon the feed uhit'of the machine;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig; 4, showing particularly the cementing unit 7 the line"|i'1 of 5; T V Fig. 8;is an endelevation at the driveend of Fig. 9.is asection on the line 9-9' of 8,

showing particularly thedriving connection be twee'nthe various rolls and also the control for the driving mechanism Fig. 10 is aisection'on 7 Referring trated more or less diagrammaticallysome'of the features of the'machine, as well as" the "novel methodcontemplated by this invention. At the i right of Fig. 1 is shown a reel, l l, on which is a roll or band l2 of ga relatiVelylong-l'erigth of leather'whichtis to, constitute one ply;- of the fin jished belt 7 The free end of, the -ply l2 'extends through. a1 cementing] unit, 1 generally designated "byfthe; referencefnumeral l3, andgwhich will be Qhereina'fter 'ymoreg fully described, After emerging from the cementing bath, the ply I 2' passes "through foneiormore pairs of feed rolls 1:4 ,j :and thenthroughan intermittently "actuated platen type of press, IS, in 'which it is. firmly press d a ainst the ot e be yj: According to the plan shown in Fig. 1", the

other ply 1110f the'belt extends in a continuous length from the parts just describedto a stretchinglpulley lflofcrelatively largediameter,

preferablyjis located a, substantialdistance from thejpresslfi. It, may here beexplained that -the'se: "beltapliesjrnay be of cnsiderablev length,

7 that is, from say'two hundred to three hundred 7 totheipress 16. 1 Each bearing 2| is provided with a screw 23, by means of whichthe ply [1 may be orfimore feet, and due tothe extreme lengths, as 'well as the operations hereincontemplatedflt is therefore desirable toplacethe pulley I8 and its support, onj a 'track, 20,,so that it can be moved toland from'the press tosuchextentas is required 'I'he supportJfor the pulleyij li8 :consists of a pair .o'f spacedv brackets 19' each formed at its [upper end with, anadjustable bearing 2.] adapted V to receive the adjacent end of the trunnion 22 r of th'elpulley I'8;1 Thelo'wer'ends ofthe supports flimaybelmduntedin 'slid'eways oritracks 20 located on 'the flooryfor adjustment with. respect 7 placed under-such tension as is desired.

Starting at the leftghand side of the press I6,

the path ofthe ply I! may be traced as follows: Fromthe left hand side of the press [6 around 'thepulley. '|8, .then along orunder the floor line to pass underthe pedestal of press [6; thence to 1 a guide pulley 24 located'below the cementing unit 13, thence up and into the cementing unit and out towards the left, at which point theply I1 is brought into contact 'with the ply. l2, then through the ,feedrolls ld towards the press I6, and :iinallyrintoj ,the'pressj where the plies are intimately secured to each other, Q f

It;is to beiunderstood that, at the beginning of t ah k n raiionsth page Pu l from iits reelill andisthreadedthrough the cementing u li w l th .9 31, "is t rea e a ound r equipment in the path just. described. In setting up the ply 11, itisjconvenientto'join theends by n inai inse q n e t orr t c p s as is illustrated in'Fig. Each end ofthe ply l'l receives pneeportion 25;;of: the' hihge which is connected to'the other by'a pintle 2B. I'he ply V she ve V 7 r the line -40 of. Figts showing a detail of the connection between pairs -ofro1ls. 5;

first toFigs. 1, 2, and 3, there is illus is then placed under the desired tension by adjustment of the pulley I8, it being of course understood that during this operation, the press I6 and rolls I4 are open to permit the free passage of the ply.

7 In speaking of tension in the ply II, it may be that only a limited tension is here pointed out I intended. Experience has indicated that if the tension .in the usual grades of leather used for belting exceeds a value of say one per centcor more elongation; the belt tends to run crooked onthe pulleys, the plies separate at their edges, and the r ,belt loses desirable elasticity and life. .:-On the other hand, a limited amount of tension maybe introduced into one'ply only of the belt which will not'lead to the stated defects, but, on the r,

' contrary, will increase the life and-load jtransgm'itting value of thefinished' product. Such lim-i ited' tension may, forgeneral types of belting, be

assumed to beone half of oneper cent to one-per safely under that value'which distinguishes between helpful and harmful stretching. For" ;muchlpractical work; this limit can be deter- 'inined byobserving the curling tendency in the cent elongation, the :upper limit of course being,

edges of the'ply. In referring to limited tension or the pre-stretching of the ply l'l, it will there forebe-understood that such term is used to con- I note: the features just stated.

After the ply H is set up with'a suitable degree r 6f pre-stretching, the freeend'of the ply His.

connected thereto atthe joint betweenithe ends,

belt clipper ZIformed with, pro-- by means of a jecting hooks 28 which can engage the pintle 26.

The conjoined plies are then run through the rolls El 4, and the machine'is set up ready for operation;

It'is to be understood thattin operation, it is" contemplated t at the two-plies l2 and 11, in

passing through the cementing unit |3,wi11 ;receiv'e on contacting faces a co'ating of cement :and will belbrought into contact. Upon emerging from the bath the contacting plies are forwarded:

by the; feed rolls 14 to. t-hepress l6 toreceive enough pressure to force them to stick to each other-permanently, These operations of coating,

7 forwarding, and pressing are intermittent That is to say, by suitable means hereinafter described, the press 16, whichis provided withvertically movable platens 'alternately squeezes the plies together, and recedes therefrom. When thepressure i's 'applied, the feeding operation is inter rupted untiltherplatens rec'ede,vand, as 'soon as they aresufiiciently spaced,the feedrolls' HI and thecementingunit is driven, to coat and advance a new stretch or length ofbelt into the press. Theplatens then move down and the feeding op-- 'eration stops, and this intermittent action is con-.

tinned until the ply 11 has traveled icompletely or adjacent the position fromwhich they started.

while the ply 12 is under substantially no tension around its p'ath, and the joined ends are again in {In moving-through this repeated sequence or? pperationsthe ply IZis', of course, securedto the, ply H, which, during the Sein time, is'unwound' from its' reel I l. Asithe plies are-thus assembled and secured to each other, the ply H alone is ;maintained under a suitable limitedhtension,

Tsave thatnegligiblelamountincident to its being pulled a'longiwith the tensed ply 'll. When the iply l l has moved around through'its circuit once, therefore it is in veffect' replaced by a multiply "belt, in which one ply is;pre stretched,while the 1 :otherjis initsnaturalj or .untensed condition.

'lhe esu t e' p mta iml ieply. eat e be 7 having secured plies existing under differential tension, is, insofar as I am aware, a novel article of manufacture, and tests may be readily made thereon to show that it is superior in powertransmitting properties and life than prior art belts known to me, in which none of the plies was under initial tension, or all of the plies were uniformly stretched to an undesirable extent.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is, to a large extent, a duplicate of that shown in Fig. 1, but differs primarily in that the second embodiment is preferred when it is desired to make belts which do not include the foregoing differential ply tension. Thus, the second embodiment includes the reel II for the ply I2, cementing unit l3, feed rolls [4, and press I6, all of which operate as hereinabove described. A second reel 29, however, is mounted adjacent the reel II, to receive a band 3| of leather constituting the other ply of the belt. This band extends around the guide pulley 24, but in the opposite direction, and thence into and through the cementing unit l3, where it is coated and contacted with the ply l2. The conjoined plies then proceed through the feed rolls l4 and the press l6 in the form of the belt 32, which is wound up as desired on the receiving reel 33, located in brackets 30 a suitable distance from the press.

It is not intended that the reels H and 29 should be supplied with brakes or drags to impart a substantial tension to the plies, either in equal or different amounts, for, while this could be done, the preservation of that tension beyond the feed rolls l4 would require placing the receiving reel 33 under positive force. It has been discovered that, if the newly finished belt is wound under such tension, there is a strong chance of damage to the product, due to the accumulating pressure or pull in the successive wraps of belting around the receiving reel. Hence, in making a belt in which one of the plies is pre-stretched, I advise the plan set forth in Fig. 1, and, in using the plan of Fig. 2, I prefer to push the belting into the press 16 by means of the feed rolls l4, rather than pull it through by applying a positive force on the reel 33. In this manner of operation, it will be observed that the assembled plies are not tensed during the pressing operation, nor are they significantly tensed by winding on the reel 33. It will, of course, be apparent that this mode of operation is entirely permissible, by virtue of the employement of the intermittently operated platen type of press.

Having thus outlined the general features of my improved method and machine, and the nature of the belting produced thereby, I will now describe the several parts of the machine in greater detail.

The machine as shown in Figs. and 8, and also in Fig. 4, comprises a frame including pairs of horizontal rails 4|, 42, and 43, supported on Vertical standards 44, 45, 46, and 41. As shown in Fig. 4, the rails 43 receive open bearing blocks 48, which are adapted to receive the spindle 49 of the spool H for the ply l2, and the spool 29 for the ply 3| when the machine is, operated according to the plan of Fig. 2. The machine is adapted to receive one or more reels or spools of belting on each of its spindles 49, and plies of various widths, and in order to retain the plies in proper aligned relation while progressing through the machine, provision is made for adjustable guide members.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, these guides comprise tubes 5| secured to blocks 52 which in turn are adjustably mounted on transverse rods 53 secured in brackets 54 disposed on the rails 43. Each block 52 contains a set screw 55 for retaining the guides in their desired position. In Fig. 4, only one set of guides is shown in use, the remainder simply being displaced for use as desired. The cementing unit I3 is disposed adjacent the rails 42 to receive the plies from the spools, and to apply a coating of cement to oneface thereof. During and after movement of the plies through the cementing unit, the plies are maintained in proper lateral position with respect to the machine, by means of suitably located additional guides. These guides are mounted on plates 56 and 51, extending transversely between the rails 4|, and also plates 58 mounted between the standards 46. The plates are spaced, as shown in Fig. 6, for example, to receive spacer bolts 59 which are threaded to receive adjusting nuts 6i. These members may be transversely positioned in the spaces between the plates to contact the sides of the plies and thereby prevent their lateral displacement.

The cementing unit [3 includes a pair of pilot rolls 63 mounted between bearing blocks 64 disposed on the standards 46, which direct the ply l2 from its'spool I I, past the adjacent guide nuts 6|, between a pair of rolls including the applitheir trunnions transversely of the rails 42 in similar bearings 12 which are respectively located on the lower and upper sides of such rails. Disposed below the horizontally aligned applicator rolls 65 and 69 is a pan or tank 13 (Figs. 5, 6, and 7) which is adapted to receive a suitable quantity of liquid cement in which, during operation, the applicator rolls are partially immersed. Any suitable means may be provided to maintain a substantially constant level of liquid in the tank during operation, such, for example,.as the parallel adjustable supports 14 and 15, which are secured at one common extremity to depending brackets I6 secured to the tank 13, and which are pivoted to the standards 46 at the opposite ends.

Means are provided to adjust the thickness of the film of cement built up on the applicator rolls during their rotation in the liquid bath, comprising doctor blades 18 which extend across the faces of the rolls, and doctor blades 19 which extend along the sides of the rolls, and are also secured to the blades 18. Each blade 18 is secured to'an adjustable frame 8! provided with hearing portions 82 (Fig. 7) which receive threaded studs 83 secured to blocks 84 locatedon the rail 42. Adjusting nuts 85 are disposed on opposite sides of the bearing portions 82, and they are accessible for manual operation to space the frames 8! and accompanying blades 18 with respect to the rolls to such extent as is desired. The side blades 19, which are secured to the blades 18, contact the sides of the applicator rolls closely at all times, thereby preventing the film of cement from creeping up and over the sides of the belt plies.

As will be hereinafter more fully explained,

means are provided, to drive the applicator rolls -65 and 69' in' a' 'directi'on' whih; at theip'oint of contact', is opposite tofithe direction oiT-movement o'f the plies. ltjwillithusbeiunderstood-that as "the-plies move overthe applicator rolls, these ,i oll's revolve "against the,-"plies,: an'd thereby apply andthoroughly ibrush in and coat one surface of each ply with "a layer of cement of'the desired thickness, r .7

positio'ning rolls 66 and TI flare so'posi- -ti'oned :abovethe applicator r'olls, and with respect to each other, as to bring the two plies together,

with their coated surfaces in mutual contact, on I gthe upper p'artof rolllIn It is advantageous to s :bring the plies togetherin this fashion, as soon 1'5 as possible after the application of the cement, since; particularly'with a quick drying cement of the-waterproof type,1 amore adhesive union will *be obtained.

l *A fter leaving the cementingunit "I 3,, the :united or contacted plies are directed past the adjacent guides 6| between idler rolls 8'1 and'88. The lower roll 81 is mountedibetween bearings, such L 'as' thebearings I2,'secured to the rails'42, and

the upper'roll '88 is' mounted be'tween "bearing blocks 89 which are" vertically disposed in stand- -iards 9I secured to the rails ML The blocks 89' are vertically adjustable by means of screws 92 .to' permit of displacement of the roll'88 from the cbnjoined plies during setting-up operations or '30 *adjustmentfor V contact with belts of different thicknesses. The rolls BIand 88 are interconinected by gears93 .'(see Fig; 4 so that the y always operate in 'unisonand at the samespeed.

It will be observed that the plates56 and 51 form' a flat table between the rails 4| which-may receive the-contacting plies during movement shown in Figs. Land 2. As the feed rolls l4 are,

similarin construction to the rolls 81 and 8B, and

are similarly mounted on the 'frame, further 'devscription'of these details need "notjbe made, It

may be noted, however; that these rolls arelikee wise'geared togethenas' indicated by the referdescribed. The purpose of providing a" driving,

ence number 94, andfurther', are positively driven from a 'sourceof power, as hereinafter morejifully j connection for the feed rolls I4 is to pull the belting-plies through the coating bath under such Ete'nsion or absence of tension as'mig ht be desired, according to the principles hereinabove set forth, and to forward the contacting pliesto the press lfijwhich is loca'ted'just. beyond the 'feed rolls.

' With certain types of belting it is advantageous ,to dispose between the idler rolls 8'! and 88 and pressure releasing position. when the drive rolls I4 a plurality of'light pressure rolls *95iwhich 'are' mounted in suitable adjustable bearings located in'arectilinear' frame 96 posi-V 'tioned above'the plates 56. 'The'frame 95 is con- "nected through links I 91 to the standards "SI, whereby the frame'and accompanyin'g rolls'may be'move'd' to an inoperative position if their em ployment is not desired" The light pressure applied by the idler rolls 95 is frequently 'advan- I tageous to prevent the plies from separating as they pass between 'the'rolls 81;88; and I4.

j The press LIB is ofthe'wellknown type having a bed plate ID I "(-Figsfl and 9) and a'platen I02 which'i's operated by a hydraulic rarn' I03. Such presses are controlled bya'valvelfll, the ste'rn Q1115, of which is' movable from' an operative, or pressureapplyingposition, toan inoperative, or the stem I115 is in the operative'position, fluid pressure closes J the*-press', an'automaticcut-off '(not shown) being customarilylprovidedto limit the amount of pres standards 45.

sure'developed: When the stern I=05 is in the inoperative position, the fluid pressure is re! versed, thereby. :permittingthe platen I02 to, re-

cede from the plate EIOI to such distance as may; be required. As hereinafter described, the stem I115 is Lautomaticallyoperated through" suitable V controls to provide intermittent operation.

the power roperated'rolls, which is dperatedin intermittent timed relation with the operation .of

:' Referring nowto'Figs. 5, '8, and 9, the drivefor the'pre'ss I6, is taken from a motor I-IIwhich 7 drives Vasprocket I I2 through'a variable" speed reducingiunit' H3, Power is". transmitted 'from sprocket II2 through "a chain H4 to a driven sprocket II 5, which is' keyed'to a counter'shaftf H6 mounted in bearings 'I'I'I secured to the standards I A' clutch member H8 is keyed to the shaft 1 IIisandis slidable therealong for engagement with 'a cooperating clutch member 'I I9 which is rotatably mountedon'the shaft. The

member I I8 "may be operated through'a bell V crank L21 to effect the engagement or disengage ment of the clutch. The idler'clutch elementl I9 carries a sprocket I22 which, through a chain ;/I-23,"operates a sprocket I24 secured to a shaft 125, mounted in bearings "I26 disposed-on the The shaft I; directly drives the lower "roll of the twofeed rolls 14 through sprockets I211 and- "I28respective1y secured to the shaft I25 and to the trunnion I29 (Fig. 9) of the lower feed roll,

gand a connecting chain I3I. 'For purposes of clarity inlfurther description, this lower "feed roll, when specifically referred to, will be "desig- 7 J32; "Also 'mounted on the trunnion I29 is a sprocket I33 nated by the reference number ,WhiCh'lS connected to a similar sprocket 134 secured to the trunnion I3 5 of the positioning 7 rollTI'ib'y a chain I36; The trunnion I also Tcarriesa second sprocket, [31 over which passes a chain I38 that also extends about a sprocket I39 mounted on the trunnion-MI of the applicator roll 69; a positioning. sprocket I 4 2; and in contact with a sprocket I43secured to the trunnion I44 of the positioning roll 66. The applica-i tor roll is driven from the roll'fififiby me'ans and also the applicator and positioning rolls of I the cementing unit.

' The direction of rota tion of all of these rolls is indicated in the drawings by the arrows, and it will be observed that the driving connections are againstthe direction OfmOVeiIlBl'ltDf the plies at 7 the points of contact, while the positively driven positioning rolls 66 and II aredriven'in the dij- "o'f sprockets I45 arid I46, respectively secured to trunnion I44 and the trunnion l' I'I'of the roll'65, and connected'by a chain I48. It'will thusbeseen'thaaas power is applied through the clutch V 'connection'the feed rolls I4 are positively driven,

such as to rotate the applicator rolls B5'and 69 t rection of movement of the plies, whereby what- Y ever drag may be imposed by the reverse movement' of the applicator rolls is offset by the. assistlance .given by'the' positioning T0115. .Byathis means,;there-is no dang'er of'increasing or materially modifying the-tension condition desired in the 'plies during their movement through the belting under the platens while in a state of increased tension.

W'hile it will be obvious that the operation of the press control valve I04 and the clutch operating bell crank I2I may be manually efiected, it is intended to operate these members in automatic fashion, and in sequential order. For this purpose, a control unit, generally designated by the reference numeral I5I, is provided for operation from the countershaft II6, which, as above described, is continuously operable through the motor III. A sprocket I52 is secured to the end of the countershaft I I6, and, through a chain I53, operates a control drive sprocket I54. This last named sprocket is secured to a shaft I55 extending into the unit I5I-where it receives a sprocket I56. Other sprockets, I51, I58, I59, and I6I, are mounted within the unit I 5I and over all of them extends a chain I62 of substantial length. A control finger I63, which projects slightly from the chain, is secured thereto for operation of a number of electrical controls.

A bar I64 is mounted in the unit I5I in parallel relation and adjacent to the length of chain extending between the sprockets I56 and I51. This bar receives a number of lineally adjustable clamps I65, on each of which is pivoted and secured a control switch. It will be understood that the control chain I62 may thus be continuously driven, and the finger I63 will, during itsmovement, successively contact the various switches.

Fig. 9 also shows in symbolic manner the control circuits for the operation of the feed rolls and press. The four switches, I1I, I12, I13, and I14 mounted on the bar I64 are advantageously of the mercury-in-bulb type, through which an electric circuit may be made when the bulb is in a horizontal position, but broken when the bulb is tilted to permit the mercury to run to one end, and away from one of the switch points which extends through the bulb. These switches may be biased by springs or counterpoises to either the horizontal or closed position, or a tilted or open position, and, in the present case, switches I1I and I13 are normally closed, while switches I 12 and I14 are normally open, and they assume respectively open and closed positions only when, and so long as, they are moved from their biased positions by contact with the control finger I63. As this type of switch is a well-known article of commerce, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate or describe its structure and mode of operation in further detail.

Switches HI and I14 are employed in the circuits which control the operation of the press I'6, while switches I 12 and I 13 are connected in the control circuits for operating the clutch actuating crank I2I.

The circuits through the switches I12 and I13 for the control of the clutch actuator. I2I may be described in conjunction with their associated parts as follows: From one side I8I of amain electric line current flows via a branch wire I82 to one end of the coil of a relay I83, and passes through the coil to one contact of normally open switch I12 through wire I84. A wire I85, connected to the opposite contact of switch I12, connects to a wire I86, which in turn leads through wire I81 to the other side I88 of the main line.

This circuit, which may be called the pick-up circuit, transmits current through the coil of relay I83, thus energizing it and permitting it to pick up its three armatures I89, I9I, and I92. As soon as the finger I63 passes switch I12, however, the switch opens, and it will therefore be apparent that the circuit just'traced will also be opened, permitting the relay to be deenergized and the aramtures to drop.

To avoid this deenergization, a stick circuit is therefore provided to maintain relay I 83 energized. This circuit may be traced as follows: From main line I8I, current fiows via wire I82, coil I83, and wire I84 as before, to a wire I93 connected between wire I84 and one side of switch I13, through normally closed switch I13 to wire I94 which is connected to the contact point of armature I92. The opposite side of armature I92 is in turn connected to wire I 81, which leads to main line wire I88. Since armature I92 is picked up by relay I 83 upon the closing of switch I12, and since this energization is maintained through the circuit containing normally closed switch I13 even though switch I12 may be open, it follows that the relay will not be deenergized until switch I13 is opened.

After the finger I63 passes switch I12, to close the same momentarily toenergize the pick-up and stick circuits just described, it moves to switch I13, and, in passing this switch, causes it to open. The stick circuit is thereby broken, and since there is no longer any energizing circuit for the relay I83, the three armatures drop, and the stick circuit remains broken at armature I92, even after switch I13 is restored to its normally closed position.

During the time that finger I63 moves between switches I12 and I13, the clutch thrustor or operating solenoid I95 is energized by current flowing through the following circuit: From wires I 8| and I82 to armature I89, through the contact point of the armature via wire I96 to one end of the coil of thrustor I95, through the coil to wire I91 which is connected to contact point of armature I9I, and through wire I81, which is connected to this armature, to main line wire I88. Energization of the coil of the thrustor moves its movable element I98, which is mechanically connected to the bell crank I2I in such fashion as to cause the engagement of the clutch members -I I8 and H9, thereby driving the feed rolls I4 and the rolls of the cementing unit I3 to forward andcoat a length of belting. During the time required for the finger I63 to move with the chain I62 from switch I13 to I12, the above described circuitsare all open, the bell crank I2I is retracted to disconnect the clutch members II8 and H9, and hence there is no movement of the feeding and cementing rolls during this period.

The length and speed of the chain I62, and the relative positions of the switches, are so adjusted as to open the press I6 while the clutch is engaged, and-to close the press while the clutch is disengaged. The press control is quite similar to the clutch control, as far as the circuits are concerned, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to repeat in detail all of the elements of the circuits. Switch "I is a normally closed switch, to release the press valve I04, while switch I14 is a normally open switch to close the press valve. Accordingly, the stick circuit for relay 20I is taken through switch I1I, while the pick-up cir-- cuit for the same relay is taken through switch I14. The circuit for the electro-pneumatic valve 202 is established through the armatures 203 and 204, which are respectively connected to each of the main line wires I8I and I88.

The sequence of operations may be traced by considering the movement of the chain I62 and attached finger I63. In the position shown in Fig. 9, finger I63 is between switches HI and circuit for relay (83 is' established, the relay is g [12, and hence seam 1-1 I' and ng are biosed; while; switches i 12 r and" I T4; are' ope since switch I'H has just been momentarily opened;

the stick circuit forreiay zul hasjust been opened, 7 r

and armatureszflt 20K, and 205are down, thu'sl opening the "circuitfor the 'electrop neumatic valve 202, afid'also the stick; circuit itself. With valve 202' deener gized, thus bleeding valve "I04, hydraulic pressure is released from'press f6,- and the press therefore begins to open. i y

Tli''clutch l'l8-'-ff l9 also disengaged} since its holding rcircuit was broken through switch ll3 during theprior operationthereof by the finger I631" 'Hence ifithje interval of time required for finger l6 3 to mdv'e from switch I'll to switchl'l2, the rolls M are not driven; and the press 16 is beginning toreIeaseJI It is to be assumed that as the finger contactsswitchl 12, press IBhas opened suffici'en tly to permit themovement of the'belting between the platens IUI and'l02 thereof. i

As the finger strikes switch" I'IZf thepiclK-up energized; thereby establishing its 'o'wn stick cir cuiti-through switch "3' to maintain the circuit press l figand movi'ng' the Section which was. inthe 7 throughfthrustbr I 95; thus causingi'the engage;

ment of the clutch. The'rolls 1'4 'andfcement'in unit 13 are now driven; thereby coating; contact; i and forwarding a" new section fof'belt'to the press out of the zone'of-actioni Switch I13 is so 7 rotated with're'spot tO' tlie'po's'ition OfsWitchIT'IZ,

. length" of belting is forwarded by the rolls by:

the'time the finger I63 strikes'switch 113.

Upon the operation 'of normally clos'ed's'witch 113, the stick' circuit for relay 33- is broken; thrustor 'valve7l95 is'deener'gized with the drop ping of arinatur'es Hi9 an'df'li9 I," and the" clutch is thereupon disengaged; thus iistopping further movement 'ofth'e" cementer and rolls 1'4. 'No'fur ther engagement of th'e'fclutch is 'efiected until the V .finger l63'again reache's'switch'lfl. Immediately after opening switch" [13, however, thefin'gerIGSi through switch I 1 I A contacts 'normally'opeii' switch I14 lto'clo'se the same,'thus festablishin'githe pick-upcircuit for relay 20F, and thereby its 'stick circuit "taken:

1 Electro-pneumatic valve 202 is thus energized' to apply pressure to the platens of press I6, which'thereup'on close andcontin'ue to apply pressure to the newly insertedlen'gth of belting until the finger lj63 strikes'c1os'ed 'switch I 'l l, 'therebyfreleasing the pressure and terminat V ing the complete cycle-of operation.

(It will thus be g mma pans 'are'providedto carry out the "method of making the belt which involves the steps of bringing the plies together" with cementontheir contacting faces and for'-' wardingthe freshly cemented section to the press; while the press is openfahd withholding furthef material frOm'the press 'while' the press'is' closed; These'sequential operations are synchronized with eachothersoithat the belting may move through the c'ementing'u'nit as rapidlya's the pr's's 'canl receive its On the? r other hand; "the cement is not applied to'the plies while the press is eased,

and hence'the difl'lcultiies which would be encountered'fif 'the plies were contacted'andithen' made; to wait for pr'essurelare obviated.

From theforegoing description, f it will be' unders't ood by those skilled the art that i'have provided an improved method andniachine for making belting," and '-have alsoproduced afne'w and usefuliriulti-ply le ther belt[ It will be observed -that the machine herein described is so made as to admit of the readypractice"of time tli' -limitedtensioning r nthod described in connection with Fig. 1, or;the untensiond method j-dels cribed in' coiinectionfwith Fig. 3; T By eliminating; the r'iecessity iontensioning' the plies unduly during the assembly ope'rations; it is possible to preserve to the belting all of' the desir'able "properties which heretofore have only been obtainable by laborious and'expensive hand methods-l L It'will be noted that,iin providing -ior the limited tnsioning oi one ply only these fea tures are jalsopreservedto such extent as is'lde sired.'

By using tliehereiri describedintermittent aria synchronized method'hf operatiom it is not'on'ly possible to make belting rapidly and without in'-: troduciiig' undue tensioigfbut it 'i's"also possip le tofeed ire'shly cemented length's'jof' belting to the press witl'i'theelimination oftime ldelays-dur m which thecement;couldfpartially drmqr me plies curl; separate; or bconie' displacedifflhse advantages" will "be especially appr ei t a by those familiar w th the use 'of waterproof cement,

which, by virtu of its"natur; has' been found rather di-fiicult'tofharidle. T i It ispot intenddfthat the inventionfb'e're gardedas limited tojthe precise details herein set forthby' way' oi illustration of its principles,

but thaflthe" invention} should'laei regarded commensurate'with the 'scope "of the following I claimf A V 1. a belt mak n maemnecompfi mgsu pdie iii'grneahslfor each of twp separate beltfpliesf'a cementing unit adaptedftdapplycement to' the face 0151355 each ply; meai'is' f o1 bri'ngi'ng"th e cementedffacsfinto mutual contact, roller means for: pulling the; plies through the: cementing unit of sesame belt'plies, power driyehrollrf means adiacentrsaid c emei itinj t"o niave j s'am ues through said unit'and tb :aiweid' saidplis after contact'lto a point the'rebeyond' pressure applyone l a adapte toap yrbre l i 'a d tacting plies 'aiterpassagethrough said roller means; intermittent drive meansfor m'ovin'g said pliesceinenting means and fsiaiid'roll;

ermeans?means eri miip iitlvo'a iiet i e d el n sei Pre sur ap l n m nsla' c n:

'trol imeans associated with said. intennit tent means for. operating sa id driye means when said pr ssur p n m an is rel as n o or di connecting said'drive means when saidpressure apply n means is a tua ed. or r A; b lt m ma hinei r ir eifa cementing unit including two pairs of rolls, apair o f feed rolls disposed on the emergent side of 7 said unit, means for positively driving said feed rolls to moyebelt plies. through said unit, means for positively driving said two/pairs .of rolls, said: n m sim ns i isq disposed as to' drive.

the rolls or each of said pairsin the same rotational direction, and means disposed adjacent the ieedrolls tolapply pressureto plies passing through said pairs of 'rolls insaid cementing unit; 4, Inabelt makingmachine, the combination ihmeees prenp ure tecpn ac in and cemented belt plies of means forapplying cement to the faces of each of a pair of plies, said cement applying means comprising two pairs of power driven rolls, a cement tank disposed below said rolls, one of each pair of said rolls being so spaced with respect to said tank as to receive thereon a coating of cement adapted to be placed in said tank, the other roll of each pair being disposed above said tank, means for inserting a belt ply between the rolls of each pair for movement therebetween, and means for driving said lower rolls of each pair in the same rotational direction as the upper rolls of the pair, the said upper rolls being driven in the same direc tion as the direction of movement of the plies, whereby said upper rolls will forward the plies through the tank and the lower rolls will apply cement to the faces thereof against the normal directional movement of the plies.

5. In a belt making machine, a press adapted to receive contacting and cemented plies of belting, means for feeding said plies to said press, and means for applying cement to the faces of said plies prior to transmittal to said press, said last named means including a tank adapted to receive cement, two pairs of spaced rolls disposed above said tank, the lower roll of 'each pair being adapted to dip into cement contained in said tank, means for driving the upper rolls of each pair in such direction as to move the plies disposed between said rolls toward said press, and means for driving the lower rolls of each pair in the same rotational direction as the upper rolls, whereby said lower rolls may force cement into said plies against the movement of the plies through said pairs of rolls.

6. In a belt making machine, in combination, means for applying pressure to a pair of contacting belt plies, means for moving said plies towards said pressure means, means for bringing said plies into surface contact as said plies are so moved, and means for applying cement to one surface of each of said plies just prior to contacting the same, said cement applying means comprising power driven rolls adapted to contact the surfaces of said plies and to move in a counter direction with respect to said plies at said point of contact, and means for applying cement to said power driven rolls at a point spaced from said point of contact.

7. A belt making machine comprising means for bringing together into surface contact a pair of belt plies, means for cementing the contacting surfaces of said plies prior to mutual contact, a press, means for transmitting said contacting plies to said press, means for driving said transmitting means, means for opening and closing said press, and means for operating the opening means for said press, the driving means, for disconnecting the driving means and for operating the closing means for said press as sequential operations.

8. A belt making machine comprising a cementing unit adapted to apply cement between a pair of belt plies, means for feeding contacting plies to a press, a press adapted to receive said contacting plies for application of pressure thereto, a power drive for said feeding means, a clutch disposed in said drive, a continuously operated control drive, a control finger on said control drive, and a plurality of controls disposed adjacent said control drive and adapted to be successively operated by said finger, said controls respectively effecting the engagement and disengagement of said clutch and the closing and opening of said press.

9. A belt making machine comprising a cementing unit including a tank adapted to receive cement, applicator rolls disposed above said tank for partial submersion in the contents thereof, positioning rolls disposed above said applicator rolls, means for positively driving all of said rolls side thereof to contact the cemented surfaces of the plies, feed rolls disposed adjacent said unit to effect the movement of the plies therethrough, and press means disposed adjacent the feed rolls to apply pressure to the contacting plies passing through the feed rolls.

10. In a belt making machine, a cementing unit adapted to apply cement between a pair of belt plies, said unit including an applicator roll and a positioning roll disposed adjacent said applicator roll, means for driving said rolls, a pair of feed rolls adapted to move said belt plies through said unit, said feed rolls being interconnected for concurrent driving, a press adapted to compact said plies together, driving means for said rolls including a pair of clutch members, operating means for said press, and driving means adapted to effect the engagement and disengagement of said clutch members and the operation of said press.

11. In a belt making machine, a pair of feed rolls, a driving connection between said rolls whereby they may be driven in unison, a source of power, a second driving connection between said source of power and said driving connection for said rolls, said second driving connection including a clutch, means for effecting the engagement or disengagement of the clutch, a power operated press, a timing drive, means connecting said timing drive to said source of power for continuous operation, a control finger on said timing drive, a plurality of electric switches disposed adjacent said timing drive for momentary operation by said finger, an electro-magnetic control for said clutch actuating means, an electro-magnetic control for said press, and electric circuits extending through said switches adapted upon the momentary operation thereof to energize and deenergize said electro-magnetic controls in such sequence as to eifect the engagement and disengagement of the clutch and the closing and opening of said press.

12. A machine for making a multi-ply belt comprising means for supporting a pair of belt plies in spaced relation, means for moving said plies in unison to a common point of contact, means adjacent said common point for applying cement to a surface of each of said spaced I plies, a press, means for'intermittently operating said press, means for moving contacted belt plies from said point of contact to said press, and means for operating said last named moving means intermittently and in timed relation with said press operating means.

JAMES A. WEBB. 

